Thanks for the match report Don. Glad you and your wife enjoyed the away day experience together. It sounded like a well organised solid display which is just what is needed to get us up amongst the top three. For a change I wasn't listening pacing around the house on edge ! The lads on the radio did mention that quite a few Vale fans were leaving rather early which did indicate that they had given up and they were right in thinking their team were not getting anything from it. Your wife does have a point saying we were passing the ball to each other and going in the right direction. As we know those two simple basics are nearly always the difference between success and failure. Thanks again for the excellent feed back.

Don,
Great report! It must have taken a bit of time to compose that.
It seems that the guys all played well, with maybe a couple of exceptions, who, had the others not been so good, might not have been criticised.
We are beginning to get a settled team.

Thanks for the rating guys. I enjoyed writing the report, it's much better when you've got good things to say. I can't overemphasise the difference Foderingham has made. His save from a direct free kick in the second half was critical. Low and hard and bounced right in front of him, a lesser keeper would probably have spilled it and that would have been 1-2 and we would have been facing a fired-up team for the last 15 minutes. It's instances like this where games are won and lost.

I strongly feel that we need to persevere with our own strikers and not the loanees. With more game time Magera could become a great asset, you can see he's got quality. Then you have Kerrouche who has a good strike record and Connell who I feel needs more opportunity. Defence and midfield look settled now (but let's hope Risser doesn't re-emerge, he looked very out of touch to me). In contrast Ferry and Smith were very sharp. I don't think I said much about McCormack in my report...he had a good game and he and Flint look a good partnership.

I hope there isn't too much tinkering tomorrow, we need to keep a settled side whatever the competition in my view.

Things are looking up!

Been thinking about that last comment.
For the JPT I would leave Ridehalgh out, no matter how good he has been.
He can't play v Hudds., so would give someone else a game to get used to playing with the rest of the defence, ready for the cup game.
Nor Jervis, for the same reason.

Great report Don, enjoy reading that alot. Agree about Foderingham whenever I've seen him he makes everyone so confident, No coincidence that the return of Flint, Foderingham and a hidden gem in McCormack has suddenly made our defence alot less frail.

Gollum, agree about Ridehalgh, he's been very good but I wouldn't mind seeing more of Cibbochi whenever I've seen him he seems very assured. Think Connell and Magera should start as that could be an effective partnership given time.

Some nice form and suddenly this season seems better.

I certainly wouldn't want Jervis to start tomorrow. I also agree about about Ridehalgh who's not available Saturday - good opportunity to give Cibbochi some game time. I'd also like to see Connell start with Magera, they seem complementary players to me which is always what you need up front.

I was thinking about the same thing today regarding who Paolo plays at left back and up front. I too would leave out Ridehalgh and Jervis although we do have a realistic chance of getting to Wembley in the JPT so wouldn't be supprised or disappointed if they both started tomorrow night. Would like to see how Connell and Magera play together and hopefully whichever way Paolo plays it we will be one step closer to a final.

Question - what do these 4 players have in common (apart from playing for STFC)?

Aden Flint
Wes Foderingham
Rafa DeVita
Liam Ridehalgh

Answer later!

When all those players play in the same team we don't concede.

They all go shopping at TK max ? Have often seen plenty of town players in there on a Sunday, Timlin even took time out to have a coffee with us.
Haven't got a clue to the question though. I'll await the answer.

Good tries guys. you're probably both right, but the answer I was looking for is that they've all been in the League 2 Team of the Week at some point in the last four weeks. I don't know why the Adver don't report this, it's a good sign of an improving side.

Great report Don, I have always considered Vale to be a bit of a bogey team and was slightly nervous about the match on Saturday. I seem to remember they were the team that stopped our run of consecutive home wins in the 85-86 season.

Looking forward to Saturday, it should be a great test for the team and it would be good to get a positive result to keep the unbeaten run going.

COYR